RADIO VATICAN REPORT:
Vatican Radio - On a sunny June Sunday in Rome, Pope Benedict greeted the
faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Angelus. June 24th is the feast of Saint John the Baptist
and it was on this figure of the Church that the Pope spoke of before the
recitation of the Marian Prayer."This Sunday, we celebrate the birth of John
the Baptist, the great saint who prepared the way for our Lord. John was a
voice, crying in the wilderness, calling God’s people to repentance. Let us heed
his voice today, and make room for the Lord in our hearts."

The Holy
Father explained that John’s conception to Mary’s elderly cousin Elizabeth is a
sign that “nothing is impossible to God”.

Pope Benedict described John
the Baptist as “the forerunner of Jesus, a messenger who prepares the way for
the Son of God.

Thirty years later continued the Pope, John begins
baptizing people in the Jordan river, hence the name “the Baptist”. He wanted
people to repent in preparation for the imminent coming of the
Messiah.

God, underlined the Holy Father, had a mission for this great
Saint. He was the one to Baptize Jesus and in his own violent death bore witness
to the Son of God and was the first to make Jesus known
publicly.

Following the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Benedict,
speaking in Italian, told those gathered he was making a visit on Tuesday to the
areas in Northern Italy hit by a recent earthquake. He expressed the solidarity
of the whole church with those affected and he invited the faithful to pray for
all those in need.SHARED FROM RADIO VATICANA

Egypt has elected a new president however, some
question the validity of the vote. The first supposedly free election since the
revolution ended last week. The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi was
elected. It is said that Morsi collected over 13 million votes and his rival
Ahmed Shafik had over 12 million. In a breakdown Morsi received under 52% and
Shafik over 48% of the vote.

It
has been said that, Morsi "represents the older, more conservative wing of the
Brotherhood and openly endorses a strict Islamic vision," this according to an
official of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The late President Mubarak left office 16 months ago after
the revolution in Cairo's Tahrir Square. This latest vote release puts the
country's Coptic Christians in fear. This includes 10% of the Egyptian
population of 85 million people.There is anxiety that sharia law will be
enforced. It is apparent that some seat were sponsored by political parties; and
thus unconstitutionally. This accounts for the 71% majority of the
Islamists.As Egypt passes into a new government it is important for all
Christians to keep them in prayer. Prayers for peace, stability and
freedom...please keep these people in prayer. (files from
Cath.Online/CNN/blogger)

Are
footballers and their fans becoming more religious? The image of players making
the sign of the cross as they run out on the pitch, or score a goal, is very
familiar. After Bolton's Fabrice Muamba collapsed with a serious heart attack in
March, his team mates appealed for prayers, and many attributed his recovery to
the thousands of prayers offered in those first crucial hours.Recently it
was announced that a former Manchester United footballer is training to become a
priest. Phil Mulryne, once a teammate of Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, has
enrolled at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. Mulryne, 34, began his career
with the Manchester United youth team in 1994. He joined Norwich in 1999 and
later had spells with Ipswich Town, Barnsley, Leyton Orient and Polish side
Legia Warsaw.Faith is an important feature in the lives of many top players.
Practicing Catholic players include: Wayne Rooney, Reyes, Gilberto, Cech,
Crespo, Del Horno, Duff, Alonso, Morientes, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Luque and Prso - to
name but a few.Most clubs have their own chaplain - Barcelona even has a
chapel in their grounds. And all clubs have special Masses said for them
throughout tournaments.In Wroclaw throughout UEFA EURO 2012, the Church of
St Elizabeth became a particular place of devotion for fans. Many came to pray
for their teams there - and also scaled the 200 steps of the 12th century tower
to get a breathtaking view of the Municipal Stadium Wroclaw.Since 2001,
football players have had their own patron saint: St Luigi Scrosoppi. Born in
1804 in Udine, northern Italy, to a very poor family, Fr Luigi devoted his life
to working with poor young men and women, establishing many orphanages and
schools enabling young people to better themselves by gaining an education and
skills. He also encouraged boys to take part in sports and is often depicted in
art carrying a football.On Sunday night, Italy, a Catholic country, narrowly
beat England in the quarter final. On Wednesday, the semi-final between two more
Catholic countries, Spain and Portugal takes place. It looks as though St Luigi
is going to be kept very busy over the next few days.SHARED FROM IND. CATH.
NEWS

With 90 feared dead after an overloaded vessel
carrying an estimated 210 asylum seekers capsized in Indonesian waters 120 km
north of Christmas Island, numbers of those drowned in the past 18 months in
their bid to reach sanctuary in Australia now stands at 557 but could possibly
be far higher.In December 2010 more than 48 men, women and children were
lost when their flimsy boat broke up in high seas after crashing onto the jagged
rocks off Christmas Island. Just under a year later, in November 2011, a
further 27 asylum seekers lost their lives off Java. Less than two weeks later
another boat capsized off the Java coast. Of the 250 aboard more than 200
drowned.As well as these four tragedies, there are disturbing and credible
reports of two boats - one of which was carrying 105 asylum seekers and the
other, 97 - that "disappeared" recently while making the journey from Indonesia
to Australia.

More than 48 asylum seekers drowned when their
boat was thrown onto rocks at Christmas Island in 2010

"As well
as those two boats, there may well be others we just don't know about," says Fr
Jim Carty, coordinator of the Marist Asylum Seeker and Refugee
Services.According to Fr Carty when numbers of asylum seekers such as those
who lost their lives on the vessel known as SIEV X during the Howard era when
353 of the 400 on board drowned are added to those who have died on voyages made
over the past 18 months, the death toll over the past 12 years would top
1000."The decision to get on a boat in order to seek asylum is not made by
someone who has any choice," says Fr Maurizio Pettenà, Director of the
Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO). "No one wants to be an
asylum seeker. No one wants to risk their life in open waters. But these people
are desperate. They know the boat journey is dangerous and they know they're
likely to end up in detention, but in their situation, it is often seen as a
necessary step in order to secure their long term future."

Fr Jim Carty has worked with refugees and
asylum seekers for more than 35 years

Fr Pettenà has joined calls
for the government and politicians on both sides of the House to explore
alternative measures that would allow people who are most at risk and affected
directly by conflict and persecution in their homelands to depart in an orderly
fashion and be processed here in Australia."Australia should explore
suitable arrangements with countries such as Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka to
allow people to escape to safety and by allowing processing in Australia it
would take away the need for so many people to put themselves and their lives at
the mercy of people smugglers and these dangerous journeys," he says.Fr
Pettanà is convinced the only way to prevent continuing tragedies such as the
one that occurred in the waters of Indonesia last night is to increase
Australia's humanitarian intake."At present the demand for refugee visas far
outstrips supply," he says and is encouraged by the Minister for Immigration,
Chris Bowen's pledge to expand the number of those found to be genuine refugees
that Australia resettles each year.But while the Government and Opposition
continue to "exploit" asylum seekers to gain political points and refuse to come
together to create a bi-partisan, humane and workable policy on the issue, the
tragic loss of life of some of the world's most desperate and vulnerable will
continue, Fr Carty warns.

Fr Maurizio Pettana says Australia needs to
prevent more tragedies and urges the Government to explore alternative
measures and policies

"This latest tragedy reveals once again the
plight of the 2000-plus asylum seekers and refugees being held in camps,
detention centres, compounds and prisons in Indonesia. Many of these people have
been found to be genuine refugees by the UNHCR (United Nations Human Rights
Commission for Refugees) but having waited year after year in often appalling
conditions there is still no guarantee of them finding resettlement," says Ian
Rintoul of Australia's Refugee Action Coalition pointing out it is little wonder
that with no hope of resettlement, no rights and no opportunity to work legally
or for their children to attend school, so many refugees from Indonesia are
willing to risk everything including their lives to try and make it to
Australia.For the past decade or more, Indonesia has become a warehouse for
thousands of desperate Afganistani, Pakistani, Burmese, Sri Lankan and other
refugees. But what few Australians do not realise is that the pitiful conditions
many are forced to live in, which include rat-infested dwellings where as many
as three and four families bed down in one room, are run by international
agencies directly funded by our Government. Three years ago a report by
Australian lawyer, Jesse Taylor revealed the cost of the upkeep for more than
2000 of these refugees was paid for by the Australian Government in an effort to
prevent or discourage them from trying to reach Australia by boat.

Nearly 1000 asylum seekers have drowned or
disappeared on their way to Australia

"Despite this being under the
Federal Government's own humanitarian plan, in the first three months of this
year only 17 of the hundreds if not thousands of refugees held in Indonesia and
referred by the UNHCR have been accepted for settlement in Australia," Ian
Rintoul reports.He joins Fr Pettanà, Fr Carty, church leaders and other
refugee advocates in calling on both sides of Parliament to develop a workable,
humane and fair policy that puts human rights not politics front and
centre.According to the United Nations, there are currently more than 42
million forcibly displaced people in the world today who have fled violence,
persecution and conflict. The 4000 asylum seekers who have managed to reach
Australia in the past six months is a very tiny proportion of this number, Ian
Rintoul says and urges the Government to expand the number of resident visas
granted on humanitarian grounds.SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY

Agenzia Fides REPORT - The Peruvian Episcopal Conference
criticized a bill that proposes to decriminalize sex among minors in Peru: this
bill would increase, "libertinism and promiscuity," they said. In a statement
sent to Fides Agency, Mgr. Salvador Pineiro, Archbishop of Ayacucho and
president of the Episcopal Conference, emphasizes the responsibility of parents
in the sex education of children and adolescents, and urges the Peruvian
authorities "to have a responsible attitude before the rights of adolescents."
The Church has asked to stop this bill because it would lead to "early
initiation of sexual activity in children", "it will increase non-responsible
fatherhood and abortion," creating "new situations of injustice, exploitation
and youth abuse, as well as the loss of values required in the formation of
responsible men and women." The bill, recently approved by the Parliamentary
Committee for Women and Families, will have to be presented for vote at the
Congress Assembly. The measure modifies a provision of the Penal Code which
provides for penalties of up to 30 years in prison for sex between minors of 18
years of age. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2012)

ASIA NEWS REPORT: by Melani Manel
PereraWith the Civil War, the community of
Mullikulam (Mannar, Northern Province) has lost everything: homes, properties,
land. They can't return to their home village because the Navy wants to build a
naval base there. Now the government has placed them in a forest: they sleep on
the floor, surrounded by elephants and snakes. They need to build new homes, but
they have no tools. Catholic priest: "We are witnessing an intolerable and
meaningless discrimination."

Mannar (AsiaNews) - They live in the jungle,
on the ground without a roof or a tent over their heads, surrounded by
elephants, snakes and other wildlife. There are 145 families, 285 Tamil
Catholics from the village of Mullikulam in Mannar District (Northern Province,
Sri Lanka). In theory, these people would be among the first groups of civil war
refugees (IDPs - Internally Displaced People) to enjoy the resettlement programs
promoted by the government. In practice, for more than 20 years they have not
had a home, or jobs to be able to survive. A group of people - including two
Catholic priests, a Buddhist monk and two members of NGOs - visited the
community and said they were "shocked" by the conditions in which these people
find themselves. "What crime", said Ven. Buddhiyagama Chandrarathana Thero,
"could these people have ever committed, to live like
animals?".

The population of
Mullikulam

The first settlements in the area of Mullikulam
date back to 1800. Tamil and Catholic, the population has always lived from
agriculture and artisanal fishing. Thanks to the rainy season, the area is rich
in water, which the inhabitants have used for large crops of rice. However,
since the start of the conflict - which hit the northeastern provinces of Sri
Lanka - the community has lost all political, social, economic, cultural and
environmental rights.

The population was forced to leave the village for
the first time in 1990. In 2002, with the signing of a peace agreement thanks to
the mediation of Norway, the people returned to their villages. But in 2007,
when the conflict resumed, the people once more found themselves without
anything. "The army", one evacuee, who remains anonymous for reasons of safety,
told AsiaNews, "told us to leave all our stuff and not take anything
with us. It was only supposed to be for three days, then we would return to our
homes. Five years have passed." They were all scattered throughout Thalvuoadu,
Valkeipetrankandal, Thalaimannar, Nanattan, Madukkarai and Mannar, while another
400 families are living in their homes.

Why can't we return
to our village?

Since 2009, by which time the war was over,
many worked to support their cause and to ask that these people be resettled in
their homes. Among many others was also the Bishop of Mannar, who together with
other bishops of the north went all the way to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The
same population has tried in every way to attract the attention of the
authorities to their case, but without success. The government has always
"justified" their silence on the issue by claiming the need to keep the area a
"high security zone." In fact, some say the issue results from a project of the
Sri Lankan Navy, which allegedly has chosen to build a new naval base right in
the area of Mullikulam. "We will let you use our land", some evacuees have tried
to say, "even if it is ours by right. But at least, let us live
nearby."

The government's solution

After
numerous appeals, peaceful marches and petitions, in February 2012 the Secretary
of Defense agreed to visit the people, to find a solution. The reply came from
the authorities: "You cannot return to your homes. You will be settled near the
village of Mullikulam". That is, in the jungle of Marichchikattu.

"We had
no choice", said another community leader, also anonymous, "we no longer wanted
to be a burden for all those who have helped us over the years. So, on June 15
we moved to this forest. Our hope is to establish ourselves in the village of
Manangkadu. But we have absolutely nothing. After 30 years, we have to rebuild
our lives again."

Winifreeda Cross, a fisherwoman, says: "Even today,
there is no way to have a peaceful life. There are mosquitoes everywhere that
keep us from sleeping at night. Moreover, in the surrounding areas it's full of
elephants. We came here because we have decided to sacrifice our lives for the
future of our children. But we are afraid. If we don't manage to survive these
difficulties, what will we do?".

However, the problems don't "just"
concern the jungle. The area where they live now, in fact, belongs to the State
Forestry Department. This means that without an official license, people cannot
touch the land, neither to build houses, nor to cultivate it.

"There
would be fishing", says Francis Joseph, a community leader, "which has always
been one of our main activities. The Navy has given us permission to fish in the
area. But how can we do this, without equipment? When we were displaced, we had
to leave everything."

Hopes for the
future

From June 15 until today, the Navy has "built" two
bathrooms, and given them a tank of water, enough for the minimum needs of these
people. Nothing compared to the real needs of the community. "We need boats",
said Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, a human rights activist, "fishing nets, fishing
lines, motors, lamps, mosquito nets, dry food rations, kerosene. We are
witnessing an intolerable discrimination, because for no reason these people are
being prevented from returning to their places of origin."

Listen to me, O coastlands,
and hearken, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the
body of my mother he named my name.

2

He made my mouth like a sharp
sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his
quiver he hid me away.

3

And he said to me, "You are my
servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."

4

But I said, "I have labored in
vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is
with the LORD, and my recompense with my God."

5

And now the LORD says, who
formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that
Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and
my God has become my strength --

6

he says: "It is too light a
thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to
restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that
my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Psalms
139: 1 - 3, 13 - 15

1

O LORD, thou hast searched me
and known me!

2

Thou knowest when I sit down
and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar.

3

Thou searchest out my path and
my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

THE birth of St. John was foretold by an angel of the Lord
to his father, Zachary, who was offering incense in the Temple. It was the
office of St. John to prepare the way for Christ, and before he was born into
the world he began to live for the Incarnate God. Even in the womb he knew the
presence of Jesus and of Mary, and he leaped with joy at the glad coming of the
son of man. In his youth he remained hidden, because He for Whom he waited was
hidden also. But before Christ's public life began, a divine impulse led St.
John into the desert; there, with locusts for his food and haircloth on his
skin, in silence and in prayer, he chastened his own soul. Then, as crowds broke
in upon his solitude, he warned them to flee from the wrath to come, and gave
them the baptism of penance, while they confessed their sins. At last there
stood in the crowd One Whom St. John did not know, till a voice within told him
that it was his Lord. With the baptism of St. John, Christ began His penance for
the sins of His people, and St. John saw the Holy Ghost descend in bodily form
upon Him. Then the Saint's work was done. He had but to point his own disciples
to the Lamb, he had but to decrease as Christ increased. He saw all men leave
him and go after Christ. "I told you," he said, "that I am not the Christ. The
friend of the Bridegroom rejoiceth because of the Bridegroom's voice. This my
joy therefore is fulfilled." St. John had been cast into the fortress of
Machærus by a worthless tyrant whose crimes be had rebuked, and he was to remain
there till he was beheaded, at the will of a girl who danced before this
wretched king. In this time of despair, if St. John could have known despair,
some of his old disciples visited him. St. John did not speak to them of
himself, but he sent them to Christ, that they might see the proofs of His
mission. Then the Eternal Truth pronounced the panegyric of the Saint who had
lived and breathed for Him alone: "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are
born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the
Baptist"